Holding unlicensed personal care homes accountable, Disability Rights Mississippi calls for new legislation

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Disability Rights Mississippi is calling for a bill to be passed to crack down on unlawful practices that take advantage of vulnerable people regarding housing.

The group says for far too long, those with disabilities have not been protected under a law when it comes to housing.

Through their investigation, they have gathered evidence of neglect, abuse, and manipulation.

“The longer this is unmitigated, the more vulnerable citizens will suffer and have their safety and well-being threatened,” said Polly Tribble, the Disability Rights Mississippi Director.

Members of Disability Rights Mississippi stood in solidarity on the steps of the State Capitol Thursday voicing their concerns as well as demands.

“We are hopeful that our leaders will take the findings in this report seriously and act with the urgency we believe that this issue requires,” said Tribble.

The agency is funded by the state to provide legal and advocacy services for people with disabilities across the state.

They say over the past decade, DMRS has conducted extensive investigations into unlicensed personal care homes. Those investigations uncovered a crisis of widespread misconduct, unsafe living conditions, and discriminatory practices.

“The conditions outside of the home are often deplorable. The inside is only worse. Inoperable plumbing, improper cooling, and heating. Windows nailed shut and covered with plastic instead of a window,” said Raven LeSure with Disability Rights Mississippi.

The group also provided photos from their findings of homes in harsh conditions.

Some clients were even living in sheds and tents.

Those on hand tell us people with severe mental illness, veterans, and those without family are staying in these facilities.

“It’s a life-or-death issue. We have seen people who have had to go to hospitals because they haven’t been taken care of. So, it’s a big deal. It’s a big deal to us because we want people to be treated with dignity and we want people to be treated humanely,” said Tribble.

Now the organization is demanding that lawmakers establish meaningful penalties for those operating unlawful, unlicensed facilities.

“Close loopholes in occupancy that allow operators to avoid regulation. Next, define personal care homes clearly in our state laws to ensure all facilities fall under regulatory oversight,” said Tribble.

The group has now passed its proposal along to lawmakers in both chambers.

They now hope legislation will get passed on this issue during this year’s legislation.

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